Chicago Cubs get approval for smaller jumbotron, right-field sign

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks today approved the most controversial piece of the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field renovation plan, ruling that the team may erect a roughly 5,700-square-foot sign in left field featuring a 4,560-square-foot video screen and a 650-square-foot advertising sign in right field.

Those sizes are smaller than the ones outlined in the April framework agreement between the team and the city, but bigger than what Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th, and Lakeview residents pushed for. They said the size of the signs would create quality-of-life issues.

With a unanimous vote this evening after a five-and-a-half-hour meeting that included lots of public testimony, landmarks commissioners decided that the outfield signs would "not adversely affect the significant historical and architectural features of the landmark."

The approval clears another major hurdle in the team's $500 million Wrigley Field renovation and effort to reshape the area in and around the ballpark in the coming years. Approval from the Chicago Plan Commission and full City Council is still pending.

'STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION'

"This is a great step in the right direction" Cubs spokesman Julian Green said. "Today's vote puts us on the right track to make sure that we can move forward with this restoration of the ballpark."

The Wrigley Field Landmark Ordinance includes the "generally uninterrupted sweep and contour" of the bleachers — one of five aspects of the 99-year-old ballpark designated as a landmark — but the panel in charge of the city's landmarks agreed with a commission staff analysis explaining that, because there is distance from the bottom of each sign to the top of the bleachers (8 feet for the left-field sign and 10 feet for the right-field sign), the signs are allowed.

The Cubs had originally proposed a 6,000-square-foot sign in left field and a 1,000-square-foot sign in right field. The approved left-field sign includes slightly smaller versions of the LED video screen, a neon script sign on top and two "light standards" above.

In all, the two signs will make up about 30 percent of the 18,530 square feet of new signage that will be introduced in and around the ballpark (though not all will be advertisement), bringing the new total of sign square footage at Wrigley Field to 26,318.

"Unfortunately, coming to a consensus on both of these signs was problematic," Mr. Tunney said during his testimony. "Although I understand and appreciate the Cubs' need to monetize the proposed improvements and that the plan comes with an enormous price tag, I cannot support a proposal that so dramatically affects the quality of life of my residents."

But for the second time in as many weeks, the landmarks commission overrode his pleas.

After the vote, Mr. Tunney's staff handed out a prepared statement as the alderman quickly left the room.

"I was disappointed that I was unable to testify in full support of the proposed signage at Wrigley Field at today's meeting of the Chicago Commission on Landmarks," Mr. Tunney said in the statement. "Unfortunately, we were unable to fully achieve our objectives in reducing the size of both signs. However, we agreed in the framework, and the mayor has assured me that there is an understanding that contemplates only these two signs for the foreseeable future."

The question still remains as to whether Mr. Tunney will further his opposition to the Cubs' overall plan by rallying support from other aldermen.

ROOFTOP RESPONSE

Approval of the outfield signs now shines the spotlight squarely on the fight between the team and the rooftop owners, who have contracts that prevent the team from putting up barriers to their sight lines.

In a statement, the Wrigleyville Rooftop Association did not address whether it will pursue legal action, but it previously has stated it would take the Cubs to court for breach of contract if signs go up blocking the views.

"The Commission on Chicago Landmarks issued a decision wholly inconsistent with its mission of preserving and protecting historic properties in the city of Chicago by approving dramatic changes that adversely affect specifically protected elements of Wrigley Field," the statement said.

Six owners were among the dozens of people who testified during today's meeting, using visual aids showing their views from rooftops when the Cubs erected "mock-up" signs in May.

In their comments, most focused on the significant debt rooftop owners incurred when they were required to spend millions of dollars to get their buildings up to code when they partnered with the Cubs in 2004.

"They call it a see-through sign. I call it bankruptcy," said Mark Schlenker, owner of Brixen Ivy on Sheffield Avenue.

Rooftop association spokeswoman Beth Murphy, who owns Murphy's Bleachers across the street from the ballpark, said her contingent will continue to fight the signage through upcoming meetings that will consider things like parking and traffic.

"We're disappointed, but we're not surprised," she said. "There are lots of details that have to be worked out for the neighborhood, and that's where we'll go forward."

Asked whether he thinks erecting the signs would "bankrupt" rooftop owners, Cubs spokesman Mr. Green conceded that there would be some impact. "But from our position, we believe that we still have a good partnership moving forward and that there are some viable businesses that can move forward."

NEXT STEPS

Next up in the public process for the Wrigley renovation: The team's full planned development application will go before the Chicago Plan Commission on July 18, before it heads to the city's zoning committee and finally to a full City Council vote.

Residents have complained that the proposed 91-foot height of the hotel is too high for the neighborhood, and Mr. Tunney is pushing for changes to the orientation of the hotel's lobby and patio deck, as well as the removal of a proposed pedestrian bridge over Clark Street.

Earlier today, the Lakeview Citizens Council sent a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel requesting a meeting to discuss concerns about extra traffic that will be created by the hotel and plaza. The Cubs have commissioned a traffic study on that topic, which is expected to be released in time for next week's Chicago Plan Commission meeting.

We'll see if those changes happen. But as my colleague Greg Hinz has reported, Mr. Emanuel has promised final city approval of the entire plan by early August.